Marble arch reignites Macedonia row

Greece says it had instructed its ambassador make a formal complaint to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom) over a new monument in the capital Skopje, which it says imply territorial claims against Greece.

Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou was told to lodge the complaint following the unveiling of a marble arch in the centre of Skopje, bearing the ancient Macedonian symbol, the Vergina Sun.

Greece’s Foreign Ministry said the new monument and activities of “irredentist content” carried out during an unveiling ceremony last year are in violation of a 1995 Interim Accord under which the two countries committed themselves to a UN-backed negotiated settlement on the name dispute, formally recognized the existing borders and refrain from incitement or hostile propaganda. (Athens News/gw)